The Austin City Council today adopted a balanced fiscal year 2017-2018 Budget that goes into effect Oct. 1. The budget totals roughly $3.9 billion.

Today’s approval comes after months of budget and funding discussions, including three full days of deliberations this week.

The property tax rate within the new budget is 44.48 cents per $100 of property valuation.

Earlier this year, Interim City Manager Elaine Hart began the budget planning process by directing City staff to develop a budget that focused on maintaining existing service levels while minimizing rate increases.

With the rate of 44.48, the City tax bill for the projected median-priced non-senior home with a standard homestead exemption is estimated to be $1,250 per year or $104.18 per month. This represents a $9.77 approximate increase per month over the FY17 property tax bill for the owner of a median-priced home, estimated at $305,510 in fiscal year 2018.

Additionally, the approved budget includes funding for:

An increased homestead exemption for seniors over 65 and disabled residents to $85,500.

Adding 9 positions and $1.9 million for the opening of the new Central Library.

An additional 30 Fire Fighters and $3.9 million for the consolidation of Emergency Services District #4 into the Austin Fire Department.

27 new positions and one-time resources of $2.3 million for Austin Code to expand services and hours while specifically enhancing customer service and expanding enforcement of Short Term Rentals, rooming and boarding houses, and the repeat Offender Program.

A 2.5 percent pay increase for all non-sworn permanent City employees while also establishing a minimum wage of for permanent City employees of $14.00 an hour.

More than half-a-million dollars in increased capacity for homelessness services.

A 3 percent increase in Public Health contracts.

Austin Water Utility residential customers will see no increase for typical usage.

The chart below details the monthly impact for the typical Austin resident based on the approved fiscal year 2017-2018 budget with a property tax rate of 44.48 cents per $100 of taxable value.

Approved FY 2018 Budget Monthly Tax and Fee Impact Analysis

Description

Approved FY 2018 Rate

Change fromFY 2017

Typical Austin Ratepayer

Austin Energy

$90.76

+$1.95

residential customer usage of 895 Kwh

Austin WaterUtility

$83.19

$0.00

typical residential customer usage projected to use 5,800 gallons of water and produce 4,000 gallons of wastewater

Austin Resource Recovery

$24.30

$0.00

a residential customer using a 64-gallon cart

Clean Community Fee

$8.95

+$0.90

per single-family home

Transportation User Fee

$11.52

$0.00

per single-family home

Drainage User Fee

$11.80

$0.00

per single-family home

Property Tax Bill

$104.18

+$9.77

based on a tax rate of 44.48 and median home value of $305,510 with standard homestead exemption